It's all so different. Here in the woods, behind the fence that blocks it out from the world, it's quiet and green. The only sounds you can hear are the birds chirping and the occasional rustle of tree branches. My mother and I sit with our feet in the pond, leisurely pulling out Katniss tubes, that her father named her after. My mother sings a four-note tune and a bird echoes it back. A mockingjay.

I feel safe in the woods, even though I probably shouldn't. There are wild dogs, poisonous plants and possibly poisonous insects wandering around. But I don't even feel this safe at home.

"I hunted here with Gale," Mother whispers.

Curiosity tingles through me as she brings up the man's name again.

"Tell me more about him, about Gale." I say.

Mother lies down on her back, with her hands tucked under her head.

"Gale Hawthorne," she starts, "Was my best friend. I met him here, in the woods. His family still lives here in District 12, you know Posy and Rory don't you?"

"Oh yes! Posy always says hello to me when I she sees me around town. I didn't know that she's related to Gale."

"Yeah, but Gale is in District 2 now, he's a TV broadcaster of something," Mother's tone surprises me. I'm suspicious to why she's talking about her 'best friend' in such a bitter voice.

"He never said goodbye." She whispers.

I stare at the lake, my teeth grit together when a thought comes to mind.

"Did you love him? Before you met Father?"

Mother smiles sadly. "Gale said he loved me, but then he left. Your Father has always been here. He's saved me more times then I can count."

"In the Hunger Games?" I wonder.

"Every day he saved me, and he still does. He's my sense of security."

"That's so romantic! I can't wait till I have a boyfriend," I say, then cover my hands over my mouth, staring at her nervously.

Mother bursts out laughing. "Don't tell that to your Father!"

"You wouldn't tell him, would you?" I panic.

"No, your secret is safe with me."

Mother smiles at me and I smile back. The woods fills with the four-note tune that she sang. Mockingjays whistle and chirp from almost every tree. I splash my feet around in the water, as I try to get the guts to ask Mother about someone else.

"What about Primrose?"

Mother sighs like she'd been waiting for that question to pop up.

"Prim was my little sister. She looks so much like you. I loved her. What else is there to say?"

I get the feeling that Primrose is a hard subject for my Mother to talk about, so I change the topic.

"Mother, will you teach me how to shoot?"

My Mother stares at me for a long time, her face devoid of any emotions.

"You want to learn—archery?"

"Not just me," I explain, "Some children from school. Their parents tell them about you, about your bow and arrows. They want to learn too."

"Why?"

"They idolize you. They think you're amazing, and once, my friend saw you and she said 'That's the woman who saved Panem!' and I said 'Yup, that's my Mother!'"

Mother beams at me graciously, and then her face becomes smug.

"Do you idolize me?"

"I want to be just like you."

"Just like me, how?"

"I want to be a mockingjay, too."

Mother looks at me seriously. "You don't know what you're asking for."

"Yes I do," I argue, "You started the rebellion, you saved everyone."

"You want to create another rebellion?" Mother demands.

"I want to create hope."

Mother looks taken aback for a moment. Then she kisses my forehead.

"Come on then, my little mockingjay. Let's go create some hope."

Fini.

Yeah, i'm all for happy endings and stuff like that. What are you? A Gale's girl or Peeta's girl? Review, please! - aphroditesgurl